Taylor Swift may have stolen the spotlight from literally every other artist this past weekend by announcing her new concept album Midnights, which arrives in October, but there were still a ton of great releases from acts like Joji, Rina Sawayama, and more. Plus, the highly anticipated collaboration between Britney Spears and Elton John finally came out.
Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.
Elton John, Britney Spears — “Hold Me Closer”
Let’s kick it off with the obvious pick: “Hold Me Closer” by Elton John and Britney Spears. It’s her first song in six years — and of course those six years were publicly tumultuous — but it shows how she hasn’t lost any of what makes her special. Her voice is as powerful as ever while the track pulsates with an infectious rhythm that only gets better as it goes on.
Madison Beer — “Dangerous”
Madison Beer’s new piano-driven song “Dangerous” floats magically. Her vocals are strong and stunning as she tells a visceral story full of imagery and feeling, all made more powerful by a stunning string section that brings the track to a heavenly state.
Oliver Malcolm — “Martian Man”
“Martian Man” by Oliver Malcolm, who just announced his forthcoming project Act Two, is undeniably infectious and groovy. He’s known for producing for acts like MF DOOM, Tinashe, and Glass Animals, and those experiences definitely helped him craft such a catchy, idiosyncratic sound of his own that shows on this track.
Sasha Alexa Sloan — “As It Was”
This year has been full of great Spotify Singles, from Snail Mail covering Superdrag to Remi Wolf covering Frank Ocean. Like those renditions, Sasha Alexa Sloan’s take on Harry Styles’s “As It Was” is creative and compelling. It’s much slower and has a twinkle to it, and her vocals are mesmeric.
Joji — “Yukon (Interlude)”
It’s likely not easy to follow up a massive TikTok hit — such as Joji’s “Glimpse Of Us,” which catapulted into fame off the bat because of its vulnerable lyrics and masterful storytelling. But “Yukon (Interlude)” picks up where it left off and is even imbued with a catchy rhythm that keeps it interesting.
Rina Sawayama — “Phantom”
We’re only a few days away from the release of Rina Sawayama’s Hold The Girl, an album whose anticipation has been increasing exponentially with the unveiling of every single. “Phantom” continues this pattern of excitement, serving as a sentimental track that explores how to keep boundaries with others in order to take care of ourselves.
Gayle — “God Has A Sense Of Humor”
Gayle’s new song “God Has A Sense Of Humor” is an intense but comforting exploration of grief and mortality as she reckons with being human. “Life’s not right or wrong / It’s just a little complicated,” she sings while reflecting on memories of loss, pain, and conflict that resonate deeply.
Ingrid Andress — “Feel Like This”
Off the bat, Ingrid Andress’s “Feel Like This” establishes itself as a nuanced confrontation of toxic relationships: “It’s crazy how manipulation feels like / A soft blanket holding you tight / And every night sleeping next to someone’s / Just as warm as the gaslight,” she sings, but she’s not resentful. In the chorus, she sings gleefully about finding a healthy love that gives her hope, and it’s inspiring.
Karol G, Maldy — “Gatúbela”
Of course we had to include Karol G and Maldy’s massive “Gatúbela,” which is the perfect catchy anthem for the end of the summer. It clings to the excitement of parties and endless sunlight before fall settles in within the coming weeks, and it makes those moments feel infinite.
Rema, Selena Gomez — “Calm Down”
This collaboration between Rema and Selena Gomez for “Calm Down” is a crossover we didn’t know we needed. Their vocals work amazingly together on the same track, intensifying the bittersweet atmosphere that leaves the listener with all different kinds of emotions.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Tucker Carlson has rarely met a dictator’s ass he didn’t want to kiss, and Vladimir Putin is at the very top of that puckering up list. The Fox News host is something of a folk hero in Russia: Because of the pro-Putin propaganda he so often spews, the Kremlin has encouraged Russia’s state TV to air as much of Tucker’s face as possible — and they’re certain to love his latest rant about how Putin is winning the war in Ukraine, which does not seem to be the case. But on Fox News, what Tucker says goes. And what he had to say on Monday night is that Joe Biden is crazy for suggesting that Putin surrender:
Joe Biden is calling for an ‘unconditional surrender’ from Vladimir Putin. Here’s the weird thing: By any actual reality-based measure, Vladimir Putin is not losing the war in Ukraine. He is winning the war in Ukraine! And Joe Biden looks at that and says, ‘We won’t stop until you proffer an unconditional surrender.’
This isn’t bad policy — this is nuts! It makes no sense. In fact, it only makes sense if the goal is to completely destroy the west in order to make way for Chinese global dominance. What would be the other explanation for this behavior?
As usual, Carlson provided no evidence for his baseless claims — unless one counts raising his voice an octave as indisputable proof.
As The Independent reports, Carlson’s comments came amidst a segment about Europe’s energy shortage, and how the real threat to the world isn’t global warming. “It never was global warming,” according to Carlson. “The real threat to people is global cooling, otherwise known as winter. Far more people freeze to death every year than die of heat.”
As Namita Singh writes for The Independent, Carlson’s comments came “even as scientists across the world have warned about the possibility of total human extinction due to the climate crisis, with a general agreement that temperatures are rising, alongside an increasing rate of sea level rise.”
For the first time in Las Vegas Aces history, a player on the team’s roster is the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. The league announced its defensive honors on Tuesday afternoon, and unsurprisingly, Aces star A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s best player on that end of the floor for her indomitable 2022 campaign.
Wilson, who earned the fourth All-Star nod of her 5-year WNBA career earlier this season, led the WNBA in blocks per game for the second time in her career — she previously achieved that distinction back in 2020, when she was named league MVP. She was the lynchpin of a Las Vegas defense that was third in the league opponent points in the paint per game, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and sixth in defensive rating. Additionally, she was second in the league in both defensive rebounds per game and total rebounds per game.
The WNBA released the voting for the award on its website, with Wilson receiving 20 votes, Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun receiving 14, and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm receiving 13. You can see the how full voting shook out here.
This was not the only honor Wilson received for her defense on Tuesday afternoon, as the league also announced its first and second-team All-Defensive honorees. Wilson, unsurprisingly, led the first-team, where she was joined by Stewart, Sylvia Fowles, Natasha Cloud, and Ariel Atkins. Despite being the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Thomas led the second-team.
Don’t Worry Darling‘s impending arrival began with anticipation for Olivia Wilde’s directorial followup (starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles) to the well-received Booksmart. As the months before arrival wore forth, however, the movie has become ensnarled within a PR mess, and that doesn’t even begin to touch upon the tangential issue of Wilde being ambushed with court papers (from ex Jason Sudeikis) while she promoted the film’s trailer at CinemaCon.
One of the bigger items of contention with Don’t Worry Darling happens to be the early involvement of Shia LaBeouf, who was meant to star in the role of Jack. Wilde recentlyclaimed that the Transformers star had been fired while stating, “His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions. He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.” Wilde added. Adding to the issue, this film’s production coincided with allegations from Shia’s ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs, who accused him of sexual battery, assault, and overall “relentless abuse” during their relationship.
However, Shia pushed back on Wilde’s claims of his firing. The actor sent a series of emails to Variety, in which he declared that he had “quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time” back in August 2020. Further, he claimed that he wrote to Olivia (after her recent Variety cover story surfaced), “You and I both know the reasons for my exit. I quit your film because your actors and I couldn’t find time to rehearse.”
Further, Shia told Variety that Olivia had texted him during an exchange that seemed to hint at his decision to not do the movie. “Thanks for letting me in on your thought process. I know that isn’t fun. Doesn’t feel good to say no to someone, and I respect your honesty. I’m honored you were willing to go there with me, for me to tell a story with you.” She reportedly added, “I’m gutted because it could have been something special. I want to make clear how much it means to me that you trust me. That’s a gift I’ll take with me.”
LaBeouf also relayed how Wilde allegedly sent him a video (two days after he says that he quit), in which she declared that she was “not ready to give up on this yet.” The video also reportedly hinted at friction between Florence Pugh and Shia.
Don’t Worry Darling (following all of this drama) arrives in theaters on September 23.
(SPOILERS for this week’s Rap Sh!t episode will be found below.)
Shawna and Mia (played by Aida Osman and KaMillion) are getting more successful by the second on the Miami music scene. After gaining respect and popularity for their debut single “Seduce & Scheme,” the Rap Sh!t duo make it clear that they’re far from a one-hit wonder with their second record, “Nann Badder.” In the seventh episode of the inaugural season of Issa Rae’sRap Sh!t, Shawna and Mia prepare for a big and star-studded performance at James Harden’s mansion.
The aforementioned events in the seventh episode of season one are soundtracked by records for the ladies. They’re songs that will boost your confidence and even make you want to shake something if that’s your vibe. Nonetheless, these records perfectly encapsulate the world that Shawna and Mia live in and hope to thrive in as well.
What Songs Were In Rap Sh!t S1E7?
Aside from performances of “Seduce & Scheme” and “Nann Badder,” there are two records that soundtracked big moments in this episode of Rap Sh!t. This first is Bee-B’s “1,2,3,4” which is heard as Shawna meets with Francois, her old schoolmate and producer played by Jaboukie Young-White, who she despises after a disagreement that happened in the early days of her rap career. The second is Enchanting and Coi Leray’s “Freaky Deaky” which plays during a sex scene between Mia and Lamont who is the father of Mia’s daughter and the producer behind Shawna and Mia’s songs.
The soundtrack for this week’s episode also includes the following songs:
Beam – “P*$$y Dream”
A1 LaFlare – “Wootie Woot”
Big Boss Vette – “Make Em Mad”
A.Chic — “Bandits”
Tierra Traniece — “Gno (Girls Night Out)”
Kali Cass & City Girls — “Handle It”
City Girls – “Rap Sh*t”
Baby Keem & Travis Scott — “Durag Activity”
La Chat – “Slob On My Cat”
HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ airs on Thursdays at 9:00pm EST
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Following in the footsteps of Alex Trebek as host of Jeopardy! is one of the toughest jobs in show business. Trebek was a master of all things on the game show’s set, managing everything from the cadence of the game itself to writing his own clue categories. Following that up after decades of excellence is no small feat.
Fans of the show are obsessively attentive to details, traditions and the rules. And basically everyone had an opinion on who should replace Trebek as full-time host. We’ve seen one pick already flame out spectacularly: Mike Richards lasted just days as the official pick until controversy saw him exit in shame.
By now, though, fans have settled in with a pair of hosts: Mayim Bialik and Greatest Of All Time winner Jen Kennings. And as Season 39 approaches, the two do finally seem at ease with the decision to have them split hosting duties. They’ve also been honest about the challenges stepping into the spotlight have presented.
“I watched Alex do it up close and I couldn’t understand the kind of ease and grace because you’re doing so many things at once,” he said. “You’re trying to run the show for the contestants, you’re part of the game just like the writers of the board, but you’re also trying to interpret it for the folks at home. So it’s like you’re a sportscaster, almost. And it goes so fast.”
The speed of the game’s pace and the tight taping schedule also came up with Bialik, who has seen far more criticism from fans in her guest hosting appearances.
“I think people don’t realize how many things you’re calculating because you want to move things along,” Bialik said on the podcast. “You also want to give things their fair weight. Also there’s someone in your ear and there’s many opportunities for, ‘Oh, my gosh, that was the wrong thing to say.’”
Bialik noted that there’s “a lot of editing” available to correct mistakes and fix pacing. But she admitted that the margin for error feels much smaller for her at times.
“I feel like if I make a mistake, even if we can go back and edit it, it feels very embarrassing, because I think people are like, ‘Oh, she’s a celebrity’ or ‘Oh, she’s got a PhD. She shouldn’t make simple math errors,’” Bialik said. “But sometimes I do it and it’s very stressful.”
The full discussion is fascinating for anyone who has watched the succession battle play out in the public eye. Now that things are largely settled, both Jennings and Bialik seem much more at ease in discussing their individual struggles and reflect on the role. And while we won’t often see them on stage at the same time next season, it’s clear both hosts have a lot of common ground when it comes to approaching one of the biggest jobs in syndication.
Britney Spears and Elton John‘s new collaboration, “Hold Me Closer,” is already proving to be one of the buzziest tracks of the year. Though it was her first new music work in six years, Spears evidently went into this collaboration without any inhibitions.
Andrew Watt, who produced the rework of John’s 50-year-old hit, “Tiny Dancer,” revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that Spears managed to get the song exactly the way she wanted it.
“She came up with her own ideas,” Watt said. “She wanted to speed up the record a little bit, and we did that. She’s such a pro with dance music and understanding that kind of stuff and what works for her.”
He continued, “She knew exactly what she wanted to do. she had spent tons of time with the record; she knew all the lyrics; it was, like, her thing. And it was really awesome to witness and see her be so powerful and crush it. She sounds incredible on the record, and she was involved all the way up until the final mix.”
On the heels of the collaboration, Spears shared a 22-minute voice recording on YouTube this past weekend, which has since been deleted.
While fans were waiting for Spears to put out new music as she’s been under a conservatorship, Spears revealed that the #FreeBritney movement was confusing to her, at first.
“The whole thing that made it really confusing for me is these people were on the street were fighting for me,” Spears said, “but my sister and my mother aren’t doing anything. To me, it was like they secretly, honestly liked me being the bad one, like I was messed up, and they kind of just liked it that way. Otherwise, why weren’t they outside my doorstep saying, ‘Baby girl, get in the car, let’s go.’ I think that’s the main thing that hurt me. I couldn’t process how my family went along with it for so long.”
The New York Knicks made a major investment in R.J. Barrett on Monday night. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, New York and Barrett came to terms on a 4-year contract extension worth up to $120 million that will keep him around as an important part of their core for the next few years.
The news came in the midst of the Knicks’ very public pursuit of Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, while Wojnarowski noted that the team had a deadline of Monday night for the Jazz to come to an agreement on a trade or else Barrett would get extended. It was an interesting note, as there had been rumblings that Utah — which is reportedly prioritizing draft picks — might not want to acquire Barrett because of how soon he’d need to be extended.
But according to Ian Begley of SNY, that is not the case, as Utah apparently “coveted” the former No. 3 overall pick in talks with the Knicks.
Jazz had coveted RJ Barrett in Donovan Mitchell trade talks w/Knicks. Barrett’s extension takes him off the table in those talks for obvious reasons, including ‘poison pill’ provision that makes it very difficult to trade player on rookie extension before extension takes effect.
Barrett, who turned 22 years old back in June, had his most productive season in the NBA last year, as the former Duke star averaged 20 points in 34.5 minutes per game while connecting on 40.8 percent of his field goals. Barrett added 5.8 assists and three assists a night, too.
Rappers get compared to superheroes all the time. But one rapper, in particular, might just be getting the opportunity to become a superhero for real — or at least, to play one on TV. Recently, it was confirmed that Megan Thee Stallion had been cast in Marvel’s new superhero comedy show She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. When stunt performer Marche Day updated her listing on stuntpoc.com to include being a stunt double for Megan Thee Stallion in She-Hulk, she joined a long list of Marvel cast members who inadvertently leaked casting news which includes Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland. So…
Who Will Megan Thee Stallion Play In She-Hulk?
As of now, Megan’s role remains a closely-guarded secret, much like the surprise cameos from John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic and Anson Mount reprising Black Bolt ahead of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. She might not even be playing a superhero — or villain — as even innocent bystanders or stars playing themselves in movies and television shows can require stunt doubles when rubble is flying around or things are being set on fire. For what it’s worth, at 5’10”, Megan would have made a great Titania, but that role has already been filled by the equally statuesque Jameela Jamil, who recently proved why stars often need stunt doubles with an NSFW injury. Of course, in the comics, Titania is a member of a supervillain group called The Grapplers, which includes a number of imposing beauties whose roles Meg could fill such as Cowgirl, Gladiatrix, and Poundcakes.
On the bright side, we likely won’t have to wait very long to find out; new She-Hulk: Attorney At Law premiere every Thursday on Disney Plus, and the show will have nine episodes.
Just because we’re on the cusp of September, doesn’t mean summer is totally over. While many of us only think of summer as June, July, and August, it technically doesn’t end until September 22. And with current weather trends (*yikes*), there are at least a few more scorching hot days ahead.
On these days, you’re going to need thirst-quenching beers to stave off the heat. And not just any beer will do. Caroline O’Halloran, sales director at Sprecher Brewing in Glendale, Wisconsin has a difficult time picking just one.
“Do I have to pick one?” she says. “If a gose is an option, I am going gose. The slight hint of salt and light tartness is perfect in the heat. Otherwise, kolsch. I could crush those crispies all day.”
Jeremy Marshall, brewmaster at Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California believes lagers are a must on hot days.
“The Bohemian Pilsner is definitely a good choice for something to handle the heat,” he says. “It’s a lager that stands out from the crowd without trying too hard or needing to shove marketing in your face, which I appreciate.”
To dive deeper, we decided to turn to the professionals. We asked a handful of well-known craft beer experts and brewers to tell us the best beers to crush on the last hot days of the season.
On a hot day, the only beer I’m reaching for is a Lager, and if you know East Brother at all, you know that we’re very particular about the lagers we drink. New Belgium’s Mountain Time is light-bodied and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness at the end. Light notes of honey and pear hit the nose as you sip, giving you that wonderful “Ahh” moment.
Creature Comforts Tritonia
Creature Comforts
James Bruner, director of production at The Bruery in Placentia, California
When it is epically hot outside, I need something light and revitalizing, the beer that comes to mind is Tritonia, a cucumber and lime gose from Creature Comforts in Athens, Georgia. This slightly sour salted wheat beer is perfect after, or during, sweating out a bunch of your electrolytes on a scorcher. The 4.5% ABV and added salt almost make this beer more hydrating than not, add in the cucumber and lime, and you are refreshed from the time of the first sip to the last gulp, which for me is quicker than I’d like to admit.
So many to choose from. When the sun is beating down on me I will tend to grab the lightest and coldest beer possible. I look for something refreshing that doesn’t weigh you down. Sometimes I will buy a six-pack of Rainier Beer and put it in the freezer for about a half hour to get it super cold. Maybe it is the Northwest in me, but I’ve always loved a good ice-cold Rainier and always will.
It’s okay to take your craft hat off every once in a while. Don’t worry, you can put it back on.
Allagash White
Allagash
Terence Sullivan, product manager and former brewer at Sierra Nevada in Chico, California
Allagash White is my pick. This beer is a no-brainer on a hot summer day. Refreshing and highly drinkable, Allagash White delivers great flavors and aroma from the use of coriander and orange peel to make a traditional Belgian-style wheat beer. The 5.2% ABV makes it approachable to have a few during the dog days of summer.
My sister-in-law went to college in Durango, Colorado and she would always talk about this one beer she would drink from a local brewery. Eventually, she brought me a six-pack of Ska Brewing’s Mexican Logger. I remember putting down a few of these beers really easily on a fishing trip later that summer and knew I would have to keep my eye out for this beer going forward. The crisp, clean lager profile from this beer quenches your thirst and cools you down on even the hottest of days.
Stiegl Grapefruit Radler. This beer is the perfect refreshment for the hottest days of summer. At 2.5% ABV, you can drink it fast enough for it to stay cold and have more than one. The mixture of lager beer and grapefruit juice is super refreshing and a very traditional way to freshen up beer when it is hot outside.
The balance of sweet, tart, and carbonation make it one of the most drinkable beers on the planet.
A hot day means an ice-cold Coors Banquet to me. 100% Rocky Mountain water, high country barley, malted and brewed only in Golden Colorado to ensure consistency from grain to glass. A Banquet (or two) is my go-to for refreshment when it’s hot. I’d be willing to bet there are many other craft brewers out there that would say the same thing.
A hot day screams canned lager to me. Bunker Brewing Company’s Machine Czech Pilsner hits the spot every time. It’s the kind of beer that you can either pour into a glass to appreciate the floral, spicy nuances of Saaz hops or just enjoy it straight from the can without overthinking it. The beer’s bitterness is one of my favorite qualities. It’s what keeps me coming back to take another sip.
The beer is a great example of the Czech Pils style.
Trumer Pils is my choice on a hot day. It is a beautiful beer, especially on draft. It is clean, crisp, and infinitely sessionable. It is light, refreshing, and flavorful (not an easy thing to pull off). It’s a sessionable German-style pilsner with a 4.8% ABV making it the craft beer to drink when you are drinking more than one.
Margarita Gose by Appalachian Mountain Brewery. This beer is perfect for a hot summer day. It Is a German-style gose brewed with lemons, limes, sea salt, and coriander. It is so thirst-quenching and it 3.8% ABV, it is perfect for hot summer days.
On an epically hot day, I’m reaching for a Mexican-style lager, and one of my favorites is Pacifico Clara. It’s light but still flavorful, easy drinking, and delicious when super cold.
Go ahead and toss a lime in there. No one will care.
Old Irving Della Kolsch
Old Irving
Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
My favorite keep-it-simple-stupid beer to drink on a hot day is Old Irving Della Kolsch. 100% German malts and hopped with classic Hallertau Mittelfruh and Hallertau Blanc hops. It’s semi-fruity and oaky aroma, and zippy effervescence blends perfectly with a touch of lemongrass and water cracker flavors. And the best part is that it has a dry finish that has you unquestionably craving another sip (which you’d want to anyway give the heat of the day).
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